Ice tray grid



C. R. CARNEY ICE TRAY GRID July 26, 1949.

- Filed Aug. 8, 1945 Fig. 2

- INVENTOR. Cuppoxzo D CARNEY ATTORNEYS Patented July 26, 1949 I I 2,477,284 ICE TRAY cam Clifiord R. Carney, Miami, Fla., assignor to Cellon Corporation, Miami, .Fla., a corporation of Florida Application August 8, 1945, Serial No. 609,525

- 9 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to ice tray grid and more particularly to ice tray grids which are removable from an ice tray, and which may be readily operated to secure the release of ice cubes therefrom.

The problem of freeing ice cubes from a tray in which they are frozen in a conventional type of mechanical refrigerator is one which has been long present in this art. The attempts to solve the problem have generally taken one of two directions. First, to provide a grid formed of a resilient material, such for example as rubber or the like, and which may be distorted to break the bond between the grid and the cubes, and thus to free the cubes from the grid. Second, to provide a grid having rigid partitioning members, certain of which are movable relative to other ofthe members for the purpose of breaking the adhesion between the ice cubes and the rigid elements of the grid construction. In both forms of such prior grids, the grid mechanism and the ice when frozen presents a rigid mass in which the grid, whether resiliently flexible or whether mechanically united for movement of one rigid section relative to the other is locked rigidly in the ice block. In both types of grids there is a mechanical connection between the elements of the grid which imparts a structural strength to the grid member. When the ice is frozen therein the articulation of the grid elements is destroyed. In the case of the resilient type of grid, the resiliency of the material is much impaired and frequently lost at the low temperatures necessary for the freezing of the ice. The adhesion of the ice to the various portions of the rigid grid members in the type utilizing rigid members which are movable relative to one another, renders these grids immobile to the extent that they are for all practical purposes a rigid grid structure at the beginning of the ice removing operation. In order to satisfactorily break such grids from the ice cubes, it is necessary to apply a force thereto of sufficient magnitude to move one of the grid members relative ot the other grid members, and having thus initiated the ice-freeing movement, to then follow it with the progressive movement of other of the grid members. This is frequently referred to in this art as a progressive flow of power through the grid.

As distinguished from previously known types of grids, the grid of the present invention is composed of a plurality of separate elements freely joined together in such a manner that a sudden force applied to any grid member is transmitted throughout the frozen grid and ice block to pro- 2 vide an instantaneous fracturing of the ice block and the formation of cubes therefrom.

An object of the present invention is, therefore, to provide an ice tray grid structure having a plurality of grid members each being movable relative to the other grid members and loosely held in their assembled position by an elongated assembly pin.

A further object of the present invention is toprovide an ice tray grid formed of a plurality of separate rigid elements so united in the assembled structure that each element is relatively movable with respect to the other elements making up the composite structure, and in which relative movement is initiated in the grid while frozen in an ice block by a downwardly directed blow, the shock of which is readily transmitted through the grid to the ice block as a whole, resulting in the fracture of the block and the ready release of the grid.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an ice tray grid constructed of a plurality of separate rigid grid elements flexibly united for relative movement of any part relative to every other part in all directions, within predetermined limits whereby a shock transmitted to the grid while frozen in an ice block is readily transmitted throughout the entire frozen block and grid structure, resulting in the ready fracture of the ice block into a plurality of separate cubes, and the release of the grid structure therefrom. Other objects of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views. v

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view with parts broken,

away showing a grid of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the grid shown in Fig. 1 in an ice tray of conventional design.

Before explaining in detail the present invention it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in the application to the details of,

construction and arrangement of parts illus trated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

As shown in the drawings, a grid construction of the present invention comprises a plurality of longitudinally spaced: separate: transverse grid: members It! longitudinally spaced from each other by a plurality of separate L-shaped spacer members H, and spaced from the ends of a pant by the end L-shaped spacer members 12-. and IS, The members l2 may, if desired, be provided with an enlarged striker-iportiondd; and;

the end member l3 may beiprovided with 'amen larged striker portion l5 as here indicated. The

grid elements are held loosely-imam,assembledposition by means of a longitudinal assembly pin 16 which extends through openings pierced in the small arms of the L-shaped end membrs==l|2 1 and I3 and the small: arms of: the

L-shaped longitudinalspacer members I i,- and through piercedopenings provided in each orthe transverse members i0:- In the construction here shownythe transverse members I'D are". in asingle piece which is freely movable":relativev to each. or: the: Segments: H forming the longitudinal member. The pin I6 is so dimensioned with: re spect tottheaopenings in: the L-shapedmembers li andi i3 and-the :longitudinal members 'I i 1 as well asthe openings in the-ecrosssmembers 48' that no binding :effect limitingth'e flexible movement ofthepartsis produced In isseg thegridis placedin ai-pan so designed. that the: normal vice level is below the lower surface of the longitudinally extending: assembly pin =1 6-so1thatwhen frozen: in an ice biock the of the grid are: mechanic-any free for limited: relative movementwith respect to all otherpartsoithegnid. The-:gridzmay be -'sep-- arated lfrom thefl-i-ce block in which it is frozen by. an impact-directed on anyportion ofithe grid, asr for example -an- --impact= directed-downwardly on thestriker plate portions-M or 45 ofthe' members it and 13; This .in-itiates. .a 'fractur-ing; of--'theiee block and: results: in freeing the gridtlgerei-ronr In constructing a grid of the present invention-I prefer tousea heat transmitting material, such-for exampleas sheet aluminum alloys,magnesiurn al.

loys ,-or the -like, the surfaces of which have been treatedto render them non-adherent to water.

One satisfactory-method of: accomplishing, this. isto: subject the .parts toitreatment in an xaruodizing bath and thereafter to. wax :the air-.- odized s .1r faces.- Another satisfactory method is too-polish. the. surfaces -amldthereaiter to treat the polished surfiaces; with a water-iprbofingnnw terial such for example as a containing-l awaterimpermeable plastic substancein which silicon has: been substituted :for. carbon din. the

molecule. E Such products-arelcommerciallykn own as silicone resins, and are available. commercia'llyunder tliis namc.

In order to separate thergrid while itrozenlin. the ice block from the pan flyapsharp impact on the edge ofrthe .pan maybe-utilized to free the ice bl'ok and frozen-grid theretrom orgthe. pain 13" may 'belheate'dias bylplacing under the water tap soas to free theib1ock;andthelgrid therefrom. In some instances-I havelfound that the sh'arp impact. onlthe vertically extending membersilza and l'3--will be adeduate, :not only to free the .grid from the frozenwicesblock, but also to free thegridandthe-block .from theipa-m From the foregoing it will be understood that a grid construction embodying the present inventlon may be readily assembled from a plurality of parts, each of which may be separately fabricated. The parts are loosely held in their assembled relation so as to drop into position and occupy a predetermined position in the ice pan;

The present" application is related to my co pending applications Serial Nos. 609,526 and 609,524, filed Aug. 8, 1945 on ice tray grid constructions.

I'claim:

l; .Asegmentaliceitray grid comprising a pluralityof separatezmembers forming an articulated longitudinal-divider partition, a separate unitarytransversemember disposed between the adjacent ends of" each pair of said separate members, and an elongated assembly pin loosely fitted in pierced openings provided in each of said: separate members forming ,thearticulated longitudinal :partitionand in. each of said: sep arateunitary transverse members.

2; A -.segmental. lice tray grid -comprising separate L-shaped members whose long arms. ex tend: longitudinally of: saidgrid to form an articulated longitudinaldivider partition; there for, a plurality of separate unitary, transverse gridmembers and means for loosely joining said L-shalped members andv said plurality of. separate unitary transversegrid members.

3. .Asegmental icetra-y grid comprisinglsep arate= L-ashaped members whose longlarm pors tionsextend longitudinallyof the gridv to form,-

an: articulated longitudinal divider partition therefor, an elongatedlass-embly pin loosely fitted in pierced. openings: novided. in. the .shortarm portion of. each ocisaid L-shaped members, and

a plurality of rigid unitary, members. extending.

. 5..,An. articulated ice tray grid comprising.

segmental members loosely united by an assembly pin extending through the top portions ofv said segmental. members and forming an articulated longitudinal divider, a plurality of one piece partitions-loosely joined. tosaid assembl-y pinand extending transversely of .said articulated longitudinal divider, said segmental members forming said articulated longitudinal divider .l artition comprisingseparate 'L-shaped members. providediwith pierced :Qpeningsv larger than the cross section of said assembly pin to provide.,afiloose 'jointed assembly between said segmentsandsaldvassemblypin.

'6." An articulated ice .tra-y grid comprising segmental'members loosely united by an assems bly pin extending'through the top portions of said segmentallmembers, and forming an ,articu, lated longitudinal divider, a.,,plurality of one piece -.partitions,10ose1y joined :to i said assembly pin-and extending transversely of said articulated zlongitudinal divider, .said members forming; {the transverse partition each having a pierced iopenirggqlargernthan the. cross section of :said assembly pm to provide-.- a loosely QEHQH."

lated union between said segments and said pin.

'7. An articulated ice tray grid comprising segmental members loosely united by an assembly pin extending along the top portion of said segmental members to provide an articulated longitudinal divider, a plurality of one piece partitions loosely joined to said assembly pin and extending transversely of said articulated longitudinal divider, each of said segmental members forming said articulated longitudinal divider partition comprising separate L-shaped members provided with a pierced opening larger than the cross section of said assembly pin to provide a loose jointed assembly between said segments and said assembly pin, said one piece transverse partitions each having a pierced opening larger than the cross section of said assembly pin to provide a loosely articulated union between said segments and said pin.

8. A segmental ice tray grid comprising a plurality of separate members joined to form an articulated longitudinal divider partition loosely joined with separate unitary members forming the transverse members of said grid, and a striker portion secured to one of said separate members and adapted to receive the impact of a downwardly directed blow and to transmit the shock thereof to the adjacent elements of said articulated longitudinal partition.

9. An articulated ice tray grid comprising segmental members loosely united by an assembly pin extending along the top portions thereof to form an articulated longitudinal divider, a plurality of one piece partitions loosely joined to said assembly pin and extending transversely of said articulated longitudinal divider, said transverse partitions each having a pierced opening larger than the cross section of said assembly pin to provide a loosely articulated union between said transverse partitions and said pin, and a striker portion secured to one of said segmental members forming said articulated longitudinal divider and adapted to receive the impact of a downwardly directed blow and to transmit the shock thereof to the adjacent elements of said articulated grid structure.

CLIFFORD R. CARNEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

